Waitress - Adelphi Theatre / U.K. Tour / Cinema

Exactly. Some people seem to think the show is being run for their personal benefit. What’s being done is being done to make a success of it, not out of mischief or bloody mindedness. There are people wanting a return on their hard cash investment into the show.


 

Yeah sadly they wouldn’t be doing this if there wasn’t a financial need to do so. I feel bad for Laura that she’s the chosen sacrificial lamb but better to try everything to keep the show going. I just hope the casting works, and that Ashley proves to be a big draw over the summer. I assume she’s commanding a higher salary than Laura. 

Many many many tweets coming from many other actors in the industry. Some obvious and some quite discreet.

Although we shouldn't judge, she may have had a short contract, or asked for time off. But judging by the influx of tweets from people in the industry it does seem there's more to the situation.

Anyways I'm very excited for Laura to be back 'at the end of the summer' what ever that means!

And who is gonna go see Ashley? I'm intrigued to how she'll get on, she's got a good personality and I think she could surprise people. Time will tell.

Even though I really wanted to see Laura Baldwin most of all in this Cast (I won’t be able to now), I can’t help but feel a bit sorry for Ashley. I hope people aren’t harsh to her.

I don’t think there’s more to the situation, but of course the actors and actresses within the West End are going to be supporting Laura on this because they see stunt casting happening all the time, which lessens their chances, and it must annoy them. But like others here have said, stunt casting is a necessity for some shows to survive in the West End, so would they rather no shows at all or a failing West End? I’m sure it not a decision they took lightly. 

I also think it sucks for Ashley that she’s been damned already by some as some as non deserving. She a seasoned performer, can sing well enough, so I don’t see why she can’t be a really good Dawn.  

And re stunt casting threatening other actors chances, been discussed much on this board before - it doesn't. Add up the number of actors on a West End stage tonight. Then the number who are stunt cast. And work out the percentage. It is inconsequential to their employment chances. It's just very high profile when it happens. So we think it's more of a problem than it is.

(Also MOST stunt casting is of people who are trained/in the industry - it's rarely COMPLETELY left field).

This!

Really nice response from Oliver Tompsett. Lovely guy.

That's the thing that surprises me most about this. If the show is relying on Ashley Roberts to save it, they might as well pull the shutters down now.

She struggled to get the public behind her on Strictly and wouldn't have got anywhere near the final without being repeatedly saved by the judges, despite being arguably the best dancer in the competition. It's hardly like the producers have signed up Ariana Grande for a couple of months and the public will be queueing round the block.

I just don't see this making much of a difference. Laura seems to be paying the price of the producers' own mistakes in their marketing and pricing of the show, not to mention their choice of theatre in the first place.

There seems to be a big Twitter backlash to Ashley replacing Laura although Laura will return later in the summer. Ashley from the outside age and lookswise would have seemed a more natural Jenna but her vocal range might not be up to it.

Ashley was popular on I'm A Celeb but the public never warmed to her on Strictly for some reason. At least Laura will be returning as Ashley will be wanting to keep an eye on Giovanni for the next series of Strictly.